The Department of Land Transport is strictly inspecting public transport vehicles, including taxis and buses, with expired licenses, warning that if found operating such vehicles to transport passengers, they will face both imprisonment and fines. Certainly.
Mr. Sorapong Paitoonpong, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport (DLT), revealed that the DLT, through its Land Transport Inspection Division, is conducting serious and continuous inspections of public vehicles, especially taxis with expired licenses, to ensure safety and build public confidence. The department warns that taxi owners with expired vehicles must return the vehicle registration plates and present the vehicle registration book to the registrar to record the suspension of registration or change the vehicle type within 30 days from the expiration date. They must also remove identifying marks of a hired vehicle such as the TAXI METER rooftop light and service status signs (available, unavailable, or off-duty). If anyone operates a vehicle with an expired license for passenger transport, they will be guilty of using an unregistered vehicle and face a fine of up to 10,000 baht.
The department also advises on how to recognize expired taxi meter license plate prefixes within Bangkok (data as of 5 March 2026) as follows: 1.) Individual taxis (green-yellow): ทจ, มก, มข, มค, มง, มจ, มฉ, มช, มฎ up to 6440.,and 2.) Corporate taxis: ทฉ, ทต, ทท, ทธ, ทน, ทพ, ทม, ทย, ทร, ทล, ทว, ทศ, ทษ, ทส up to 1510.
The Director-General of the Department of Land Transport further stated that the DLT has increased strictness in inspecting and enforcing laws against vehicles that previously operated under the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) but whose operating licenses have been canceled. If such vehicles are found illegally providing service without authorization, they will face the highest legal penalties, including imprisonment for up to 5 years or fines ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 baht, or both.
However, to enhance safety and protect public passengers, anyone who has tips or encounters problems with public transport services can report to the DLT hotline at 1584, available 24 hours a day.
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